College Graduates: Top 25 Cities for Finding Your Entry-Level Job

Now more than ever, it’s important to get the best bang for your buck. And there’s no question about it — when it comes to value, not every U.S. city is created equally.

Why chase a great salary if your rent swallows most of it,
unemployment is skyrocketing and you spend two hours a day just to get to and from work?

So, which cities offer the most overall value in 2009?

MonsterCollege has come up with the top 25 — and some may surprise you! After examining various city lists, weighing the rankings and taking note of our personal opinions, we’ve produced a list of cities that’s sure to offer something for everyone.

Our Criteria

We looked at cities’ growth rates, average salaries and costs of living.

We factored in average
commute time — which, according to experts, has a colossal impact on your overall happiness.

We looked not only at unemployment figures, but also at the rate that unemployment has actually increased since February 2008.